Joel Wins Round Against Ex-Mgr.

Countercharges of defamation of character filed against Billy Joel by his former manager Frank Weber were dismissed Jan. 14 by N.Y. State Supreme Court Judge Edward Lehner.

“This continues the trend of Joel’s winning rounds in this case,” remarked the singer’s attorney, Alan Friedman, of law-firm Gold, Farrell & Marks, referring to previous dismissals of various claims by Weber and a ruling last year that Weber owed Joel $2 million.

Remaining at issue in Joel’s $90 million lawsuit are charges of fraud and mismanagement. Friedman said trial should take place later this year.